Village of Hobart Board Meeting Minutes November 21, 2016
The regular meeting was called to order by Mayor Aaron Kaufman at 6:29 p.m. Those present were Mayor Kaufman, Trustees David Hotaling, Jim Quarino, Charlie Reinshagen and Gordy Key, Clerk-Treasurer Kellee Estus, Village Attorney John Hubbard, Superintendent of DPW Lucas McMullen, Chief Operator of Waste Water Richi Horne, Hobart Fire Chief Josh Mason and Amy Reinshagen.
Due to the inclement weather, Mayor Kaufman skipped to Department Head reports going to Chief Operator Richi Horne first. Horne stated they got a new drive for the waste sludge pump. The sludge truck got a new wiring harness and hitch installed by Rinehart Repair and while he had the truck, she had asked him to give a quote on some of the issues of the truck itself. The fuel tank is leaking and is currently being held up with a ratchet strap, the shift lever is stretched and not accurate, and with the additional use of the truck, a quote for running boards was added. Chief Operator Horne stated Rural Water checked the backflow devices, Dan’s Septic Service pumped out the pump station and Tim and Richi had a meeting with Phil Ghiorse of Mallinckrodt. They plan to have quarterly meetings with him. Horne also stated they got a new fan for the outdoor blower, Jake and Tim cleaned the brush out of the outfall and a new float was placed in the slurry tank for the press. Horne reported the C & D went to the transfer station and they viewed the sewer laterals of the Fortune and Ogborn properties. Horne asked the Board what the status was on how the laterals will work in the future. She also asked if she could have the heating system at the sewer plant serviced by Muthig’s Plumbing and Heating. She was given the go ahead on this.
Superintendent McMullen gave the water report to the Board stating all is going well. In his report, McMullen stated they have been busy vacuuming leaves and servicing the snow equipment. He stated the Christmas lights are all ready to be hung. He also stated he received mail from NYSDOT that a survey was done and there are a couple of roadways that are maintained by the Village and meet requirements to become public roadways here in the Village. If they become adopted as public roadways, the Village would receive more CHIPs money. More information was requested and then the Board could pass a resolution at the next meeting if they so choose.
Hobart Fire Chief Josh Mason asked what the status was of the back room. He stated he had asked for quotes for garage door openers the last meeting he attended. He was also waiting for a FOB quote for some of the doors on the fire department side of the building.
A motion to approve the Treasurer’s report with the following changes was made by Trustee Hotaling, with a second from Trustee Key, with all in favor, carried. In the Water Fund, transfer $12.80 from 9060 to 9060.1. In the Sewer Fund, transfer $382.75 from 8130.4-1 to 8130.4-23; transfer $1300.27 from 8130.4-2 to 8130.4-4. In the NYC Fund, transfer $382.75 from 8130.4-1 to 8130.4-23; transfer $1300.27 from 8130.4-2 to 8130.4-4.
In old business, Mayor Kaufman stated the USDA Rural Development LEP requirements were to be tabled again as he has not heard back from the representatives on his questions. He stated the Stamford tax meeting that he and Trustee Hotaling attended basically confirmed that the Villages were getting ripped off by owners not paying taxes. There are over one million dollars in unpaid taxes and foreclosures in Delaware County Villages alone. The group plan to meet every 3 months. Mayor Kaufman stated the Village of Hobart is not the only one that is having problems but it came to his attention again that the Village of Hobart water law is completely outdated and needs revision. Mayor Kaufman stated the Local Law that was passed last month titled Local Law No 1of 2016 to Regulate Outdoor Burning in the Village of Hobart was actually the second law of 2016. The first law of the year was the Flood Damage Prevention Law adopted in April. A motion to change the new law to Local Law No 2 of 2016 was made by Trustee Hotaling with a second from Trustee Reinshagen, with all in favor, carried.
Mayor Kaufman opened the floor to community participation. Amy Reinshagen stated she has received numerous complaints both at her store and from coworkers at Mallinckrodt of the terrible condition of the streets and sidewalks after the recent snowstorm. She stated there were still some sidewalks at that moment that were not cleared. Superintendent McMullen stated there were issues with equipment not working and dead batteries. Mrs. Reinshagen questioned the protocol for getting complaints to the Village. Mayor Kaufman stated there is protocol - complainants are to contact the Village office and fill out a complaint form. Trustee Reinshagen told Superintendent McMullen that Jake should have been called in to show Dan how the roads in the Village are plowed as he has not done it before. Trustee Reinshagen stated the roads are not being plowed correctly. Amy Reinshagen stated there was a complaint from the owner of the funeral home because the edges of Cornell Avenue hadn’t been plowed. Superintendent McMullen stated there were cars parked on the street there each time they went through to plow. This began a discussion of street signs for parking during inclement weather. The Village Board discussed making a law or ordinance for street parking during snowstorms.
A motion to approve the following bills on Abstract No. 6 was made by Trustee Hotaling, with a second from Trustee Quarino, with all in favor, carried.
General Fund Voucher #s 155-190 $19,847.45
Water Fund Voucher #s 80-97 $ 9,271.48
Sewer Fund Voucher #s 117-151 $13,481.48
NYC Fund Voucher #s 120-152 $21,260.77
Trustee Key questioned Mayor Kaufman about what was going to be done to his driveway. Mayor Kaufman asked how it was to plow since the work had been done. Trustee Key stated he could plow it but one of the grates had popped up. He stated it was not done correctly and needed to be fixed. After a lengthy discussion, Trustee Quarino suggested a concrete apron be placed around the entire drain. The Board agreed to have Timothy Walke come back and look at it to see what he can do to fix it and give him Trustee Quarino’s suggestion.
A motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:02 p.m. was made by Trustee Quarino, with a second from Trustee Reinshagen with all in favor, carried. Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kellee J. Estus
Clerk-Treasurer
